How to Visit Rome on 50 Euro per day
Eat, pray, love, and even go sightseeing in Rome on a shoestring budget
Obviously, touring Rome is more fun when you have carte blanche on spending. However, that shouldn't stop you from enjoying your time in Rome even if you are on a budget. The key to visiting Rome and not spending too much is doing your research and knowing what things cost. There is a huge range in what things can cost in Rome. For example, a gelato or cappuccino can run anywhere between 1 and 18 Euros, depending where you have them and whether you stand or sit while consuming them.
A 70 cent coffee in Rome can cost up to 5 Euro when you sit and order at the table.
Where to Sleep:
You will be able to save up to 50% on the cost of sleeping in Rome by visiting during the off-season (November - March). A newly renovated double room with balcony at the When In Rome Accommodation can be found for as little as 15 Euro per person (in high season as little as 25 Euro per person if you get a last minute deal-it can't hurt to write and ask). This includes Italian breakfast which consists of a cappuccino and croissant. Overall, a great alternative to hostels and dorm beds.
running total: 15 Euro
Budget accomodation at When In Rome B&B
Transport and sightseeing in Rome
Getting around in Rome and visiting Rome's monuments has gotten much easier since the introduction of the Roma Pass. With this pass tourists gain entry to two of Rome's major attractions (Colosseum, Capitoline museums, Borghese Gallery included) plus transport on Rome's bus and metro network for three full days. In a nutshell, by paying for two attraction tickets, you get three days worth of transport practically free plus discounts to many other sites.
The Roma Pass is not valid for visits to the Vatican museum, but by visiting on the last Sunday of the month you can enter for free. Be sure to get there early and be prepared to wait!
Be sure to take advantage of as many of the free things to do in Rome as you can. You won't have money for taking guided tours in Rome, so be sure to check some Rome guidebooks out of the library and learn as much as you can about Rome online and take notes with you.
running total: 23 Euro (cost of roma pass is 23 Euro divided by 3 days = approx 8 euro/day)
Food:
As breakfast will most likely be served at your hotel, you'll need to worry about lunch, dinner, and snacks. You will find loads of places in Rome that offer lunchtime bargains. For about 7 Euro many pizzerie in the center will serve a pizza of your choice along with water or soda. For about the same price you can get different kinds of pizza by the slice or a panino and soda. If you want to splurge and spend 2 Euro more, 'Gusto' in piazza Augusto Imperatore serves a wonderful lunch buffet with hot and cold pastas, meats, salads, vegetables and breads. The cost for lunch Monday to Friday is 9 Euro for as much food as you can fit on your plate.
lunch budget: 7 Euro
Most of Rome's budget hotels are located in the Termini Station area which is full of inexpensive places to eat in Rome. Should you wish to remain in the historic center for an evening meal, the pizzerie along via delle Coppelle by the Pantheon are affordable and serve good Roman fare. PizzaRe at largo dei Chiavari is also a great choice and offers fixed price menus to keep you on budget.
My advice would actually be to avoid a "dinner" altogether and just hit one of the nightspots that offers aperitivo. This is the best way to kill two birds with one stone-with 7 Euro you will get a cocktail or wine and also be able to eat from a great buffet of food that is put out. Many times you will even get to hear a DJ playing or live music. There are dozens of great spots to enjoy an aperitivo in Rome.
Naturally, the absolute cheapest way to eat would be to head to the closest supermarket in Rome and purchase some bread, sliced meats, cheeses, and fruits for a delicious and inexpensive meal.
Hotel staff will know where to find the closest supermarket in Rome
Dinner/aperitivo budget: 10 Euro
running total: 40 Euro
Remains of the Day
With the 10 Euro per day you have left, I would allow for a selection of the following:
A good Gelato: 1.50 Euro
Espresso: .70 Euro
Postcards: 1 Euro (read this before you go about mailing them from Italy)
cheap souvenirs from Rome: 5 Euro or less
Coins in the Trevi Fountain to guarantee return to Rome: .50 Euro
Tip: the higher the "mountain" of gelato, the less genuine it probably is. Still, it's more fun to look at!
There you have it, a full guide to touring Rome on 50 Euro or less. If you have any suggestions for ultra-cheap entertainment in Rome, be sure to add your comments below!